Page 86 of Revealing Mark

“Tracy,” my brother’s voice was music to my ears and I struggled to keep myself from whimpering. “Tracy. What’s going on?”

I wasn’t making much sense in between my sobs. “I…need…”

“Take a deep breath and breathe out. Tracy, I can’t understand you. You need to calm down.” His voice was calm but concerned.

I tried to do as he said but I was in shock and unable to string a coherent sentence together.

“Car…acci…dent…” I managed to get out in between hiccups.

“Where are you?”

I closed my eyes trying to remember the last street name I had passed. I mumbled it.

“I’m on my way.” I heard him talk to someone in the background but I didn’t care. He was coming. My brother, the one who had always put my safety first even when I complained or found it annoying. This time I welcomed it and regretted ever complaining about his protectiveness.

“Stay on the phone with me,” he said, and I nodded before realizing he couldn’t see me.

“Okay.”

I shifted and pain shot through me, making me whimper.

“Are you hurt?”

“Yes.”

I heard him swear before hearing him slam a car door shut.

“I’ll be there in five minutes. You hear me?”

I let out a low groan, trying to ride the renewed pain coming from my head. It felt like the worst headache I had ever had.

“Tracy.” Matthew’s voice was terse.

“Yes, Matty...”

In the distance I could hear the sirens of the police and wished they were closer.

He kept me talking to him even when I didn’t make much sense. I was shivering so much my teeth chattered.

The cops arrived and one of them came over to see me. “How are you doing, ma’am?”

“I’m hurt,” I breathed with my phone still pressed to my ear. Matthew had quieted down.

“Let me have a look,” he said, shining a light into my face. “That looks like it might need stitches. Is there anything else? The paramedics will be here soon.”

“My…chest.” My breathing was labored.

More vehicles arrived. Lights flashing.

“Over here,” the cop yelled, and a paramedic took his place.

It was still raining lightly and water dripped down the guy’s face as he began to assess my injuries.

“You’ve banged your head pretty hard and it’ll need stitches. Do you have pain anywhere else?” His eyes were kind.

I nodded and put my hand to my chest. He touched it gently and I gasped at the pain.

“It might be a broken rib or badly bruised.”